Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-16
POVERTY AND DIRT.
NEATNESS AND CLEANLINESS NOT
SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPANY NEED.
The Lesson q Hard Run Mechanic Once
Learned-How Public Charities are
Often charlottesville Respectfully
Clothed Generally Turned Away.

Learned-How Public Charities are
Often Conducted-The Respectfully
Clothed Generally Turned Away.
"For the past fifteen years." said a me-
chanic, 81 have had a lively 'rastle' with
poverty and disease, and during that time
I've naturally learned some things that did
not know before, and l have most decidedly
changed my opinions on several matters that
have come under my observation One of
the things that I've learned is, that if q per-
son is poor needs aid, assistance or charity,
IL you please, it is a great deal better for him
to be dirty and ragged than it is to keep him
self clean, neat and respectable looking.
@One Monday morning on going to my
shop met a man, stranger, who was in
search of some one TO do a job of work for
him in my line Of business as a mechanic. /
took the Job and did the work. When he was
paying me he expressed himself greatly
pleased with the way in which the work was
done. Now said he, do you know that l
am very agreeably disappointed in yous
When met you that Monday morning was
of great mind not to employ you, for
thought that man that was around Monday
morning dressed UP as you were could not be
worth much Ii was summer time, and /
had on blue flannel suit that cost me 81.
bought it second hand of friend that it did
not fit by boots were BACKED, and I had
on a paper collar that cost a cent? think all
the clothes that had on did not cost over
So So much for being dressed up But
was neat and clean.
"On another occasion, a mechanic in
similar line OF business to mine, which IS
quite a dirty one, said TO me: How can you
afford to go round dressed up all tie time as
you don We'll, now said ], how much did
you pay for those pants you have onP
Eight dollars We'll, mine cost me g.
'Oh, WE'LL said he, you always have clean
collar on, and have your boots BACKED
well, said |, paper collars don't cost but
cent, and little exertion will keep your
boots BACKED That was just the difference
between him and me. His clothes cost him
four or five times what mine did me, but he
looked slouchy and dirty, while looked neat
and clean.
POVERTY AND DIRT.
ain talking with lawyer of my acquaint-
ance," my informant went on, about the
times, and how hard it was to make both
ends meet, he expressed surprise and said:
why, you always look neat and clean and
TtSDttldDle uAG ~ cAsftbl1- Ito liiSbIlC-
lively associated poverty with squalor and
dirt, and couldn't imagine that person who
was poor and in distress could keep himself
clean.
II find that many charities are conducted
in q manner calculated to encourage just this
feeling, and destroy the self respect and am
bition in the recipients of their charity.
Some time ago my hearing began to fail, and
Al I
tion performed on my ears. / was advised to
20 to the Eye and Ear infrmary, and was
told that it would cost me Gothing. So one
morning 1 dressed myself in the best had,
washed, shaved, blacked my boots, put on a
clean shirt and a new paper collar-fatal mis-
take! On entering the reception room /
found quite collection of people waiting to
be operated on, and although the window was
open for ventilation, the air had that close,
fetid smell that always comes from collec
ton OF people who are not particular about
keeping their clothes and persons as clean as
they might.
"After waiting quite Il while my turn came,
and / was ushered into the operating room.
On taking my seat in the revolving chair be-
fore the operating doctor, he whirled me
round two or three times and then said, you
have no business here Why notH L asked.
This is charitable institution, and you can
afford to pay said be- l suppose l did look
pretty nice, but all l had on, overcoat and
all, didn't cost over $50. Not caring to en-
tighten him as to the details OF the petty
economies that a poor man has TO practice,
simply asked him what / should do. He said
he would give me the card of doctor that
could go to, who would not charge me much.
Consequently / went to him. He charged me
s.. Now that s., in the state of my finances
at the time, hurt more than it tickled, and /
have come to the conclusion that if | have
anything more to be done in that line, I shall
60 in my working clothes, with a dirty Shirt
unshaved, boots unblacked, and without any
collar on. 1 haven't any doubt that my
wants viii be promptly attended to without
a word Boston Transcript Listener"